I needed more content and a better format to get truly into this one. I was frustrated by dialogue reading like interviews: "Tiffany: XXXXXX Ex-HusbanI needed more content and a better format to get truly into this one. I was frustrated by dialogue reading like interviews: "Tiffany: XXXXXX Ex-Husband: WWWWWW" so it reads really quickly because the narrative is lost in this weird dialogue that seems disjointed because as a biography/memoir you can't possible (unless recorded or taped) know how things went down like that, so a more general narrative seems like it would flow better though the stories, situations, and experiences that Haddish goes through certainly pack a punch when you see the words sticking out on the pages as they do because of her format.

I have started reading a few more celebrity biographies and have been disappointed by as many as I've enjoyed. I don't know Haddish as a celebrity, so I have no concept, but she frames it well and I know who she is/what she stands for/how she operates. Loud and clear.

The story is important especially when she gets real about her abortion experience, discusses her mother's personality change and mental illness after a car accident that was allegedly caused by her stepfather but she was never able to prove, etc. but the delivery wasn't what it could have been. ...more

For the subject matter, it's actually a fairly "quiet" book. It's my first Whitehead book, and I'm going to dive back into Underground Railroad obviouFor the subject matter, it's actually a fairly "quiet" book. It's my first Whitehead book, and I'm going to dive back into Underground Railroad obviously but I think I particularly loved that this book is traumatic in its subject matter and storytelling without being heavy-handed nor graphic. I felt at every turn that I was reading a biography rather than a fictional story based on a real school that existed as a boys reform school that doubled as grounds for abusing mentally, physically, and sexually the boys they were supposed to take care of-- instead in some cases they died at their hands and were buried and hidden away in a history that is preposterous but sadly not a single story.

It's uncomplicated and straightforward and doesn't muddy or mince what occurs while following our sympathetic main character, Elwood. Thoroughly enjoyed. ...more

I don't know how this one slipped past me and I haven't read it, so I'm glad I pulled it off the shelf to read this summer.

It's a slim book, but a poI don't know how this one slipped past me and I haven't read it, so I'm glad I pulled it off the shelf to read this summer.

It's a slim book, but a powerful story and while the narrative seemed a little stilted, the story remains the same-- the trauma of war in Sierra Leone completely took away the hope of Kamara until she was able to find it again with a dose of resiliency and knowing that people were listening all across the globe to the atrocities of civil war in her country.

Kamara's hands were cut off by the rebel group as a way to "force" people to not vote, but Kamara wasn't even a teenager and didn't even know what/who a president was. She was also raped by a man hoping to take Kamara as a bride. She birthed a boy named Abdul and while he did die before his first birthday, she wanted to make sure the story was told-- she was not raped by the rebel soldiers who cut off her hands- this was a familiar rape-- but one that she didn't comprehend until people gave her words for it.

The book discusses religion, female genital mutilation, family dynamics including men take multiple wives, friendship, perseverance, and Ishmael Baeh. And while it provides enough information to understand the war, I think it could have been fleshed out for the unaware who are seeking to learn. ...more

This one, like Jahren's Lab Girl, blew me away with the writing. It was easy and flowing but hard-scrabble and real. Oh so real.

A biography of SandraThis one, like Jahren's Lab Girl, blew me away with the writing. It was easy and flowing but hard-scrabble and real. Oh so real.

A biography of Sandra Pankhurst who overcame an abusive childhood after being given up by her birth parents to a Catholic church who placed her with a family who wasn't supposed to have children. Well, after a few years, they magically did and then promptly displaced Peter (Sandra was born Peter) to a room in the backyard and there were major restrictions on her comings-and-goings, how long she was able to be in the house, whether she got any food, and there were traumatic beatings, especially from the alcoholic father (who also beat the mother). Finally booted out without any love at 17, there was a series of activities and events that led to how Sandra lives her life now in Australia. As she figured out who she was, actually marrying and having children before transitioning, working as a sex worker and being abused in that capacity, before finding a position in a funeral home which eventually parlayed into her own company cleaning up traumatic sites like scenes of homicides or suicides, unattended deaths, or hoarding.

Sandra is a commanding figure and her humanity is what Krasnostein's aim is in the story. She not only humanizes Sandra but also the people whose houses Sandra works in. The story is two-fold, Sandra's story and chapter headings with the names of the houses and people Sandra meets at her cleaning job which is captivating. It's how Sandra interacts with these people that is an element of the biography. The book is structurally magnificent and the tone of the story strikes a chord with readers. We want to root for Sandra in every way. She made mistakes. Did drugs. Left her children. But she also wants human connection and to do a good job and contribute in making others feel good.

All around fabulous adult nonfiction that is a human interest biographical tale of Sandra. Well-done like Stranger in the Woods in which it's someone else writing the story of these endlessly fascinating individuals. ...more

In the vein of Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming or El Deafo by Cece Bell that is a twist on a memoir, Halse Anderson wrote her story about herIn the vein of Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming or El Deafo by Cece Bell that is a twist on a memoir, Halse Anderson wrote her story about her father's trauma and her trauma couched in the beauty and curiosity of her life including studying abroad in Denmark but making powerful statements throughout about sexual assault among other topics.

Using verse to tell this story, no one can deny her command with words and language. It's the thing that readers love about her writing AND listening to her speak in person. It's powerful with a capital P.

In school, you could take just one or two of the verses and dissect and discuss, but as a whole, it's a body of work that defines who she is and why Speak has made the impact its has for the last twenty years. ...more

Give me more of this! Between the blue, white, and black illustrations and the sleek drawing of Salina- catgirl, who needed to escape her mom’s cycleGive me more of this! Between the blue, white, and black illustrations and the sleek drawing of Salina- catgirl, who needed to escape her mom’s cycle of abusive boyfriends and live-ins is needing to find her way in the world. Even if that means stealing, being homeless, or joining forces with an interesting group of kids living in a warehouse doing jobs for money.

There was a beauty and strength to this origin story that shows how we can overcome. Is she perfect? No. She discusses her choice to slash herself to Rosie as a teachable moment. She steals. A lot. She’s not nice to her friend Angie, who loves her anyway.

I want the font style. I love the humor albeit sometimes dark. ...more

Liu's topic is one that is riveting yet the density of the writing makes it harder to read than I would have liked. The choice to have dual narratorsLiu's topic is one that is riveting yet the density of the writing makes it harder to read than I would have liked. The choice to have dual narrators does help move the story along and the perspectives help provide an understanding of the devastation that the one child policy had in addition to the cultural stigma of females and those children who were disabled had. The book also showcases the horrific working conditions, especially of these young girls abandoned and raised in orphanages if not captured and sold to the countryside as brides. These factories are soulless.

Again, while the topics are important, I wanted a thriftier plot that allowed readers to feel rather than hear about everything that was happening to the girls and how easily they fall prey. ...more

Did not feel the book at all- it was VERY slow. Okay, got it, Daniel wants to get in to RISD, oh, he got in to RISD, now more internal dialogue. FrienDid not feel the book at all- it was VERY slow. Okay, got it, Daniel wants to get in to RISD, oh, he got in to RISD, now more internal dialogue. Friends. What's with Harry and Daniel's relationship? Why does this feel painstaking to read? There's some drama and mystery surrounding a sibling. What should Daniel do? What should Daniel think? And on and on.

Couldn't tolerate it enough to be able to understand the intricacy of relationships, the aftermath of suicide, and family secrets. ...more

This moved so quickly that I got to the end and wanted just a bit more. It focuses on two sisters, one with a developmental disability and the other wThis moved so quickly that I got to the end and wanted just a bit more. It focuses on two sisters, one with a developmental disability and the other who decides to take charge of their fate with an abusive/alcoholic father who routinely beats their mother. She takes the sister and they embark on a journey that's a fictionalized companion to Sungju Lee's Every Falling Star set in another country.

There are a band of others they meet in the same desperate poverty-stricken, and caste-enforced situation and then there's a dog. It's not a super-positive story but it does talk about the redemptive power of love even in tragedy and how sticking to your guts will get you farther than caving in.

The riveting and dark tale is often too much for most readers but it's a necessary story that showcases the history and dysfunctionality of the countrThe riveting and dark tale is often too much for most readers but it's a necessary story that showcases the history and dysfunctionality of the country in one of the bleakest times. With the elements of magic to help understand the story in a way that Maus did, it brings an audience closer to a story that they wish to distance themselves from.

The illustrations do justice to the darkness and the coloring and font size are appropriate to the story that often don't interfere with the storytelling. ...more

When you have made a deal with yourself and threatened your mother that you'd leave if she decided to take her new husband, your skeezy abusive stepdaWhen you have made a deal with yourself and threatened your mother that you'd leave if she decided to take her new husband, your skeezy abusive stepdad back after the most recent fight, you really are going to do it. And Janice did. After the latest fight after having a kid with him and fighting and calling the police, she took him back and Janice turned around, grabbed her stuff and left. Leaving for a homeless teen shelter, she entered the life of a homeless teen to escape what she thought/knew to be a worse situation and she wanted to try to make a go of it herself.

But it's a hard life. There's more treachery and unbalance in that life too from fighting girls to stealing, then comes the bad habits like drugs and drinking. It's a memoir that is worth reading to understand that life might not be better on the other side and what dangers exist.

The message is powerful. The concept that "well, at least you didn't get killed" or "it's wasn't as bad as X happening" doesn't help any situation andThe message is powerful. The concept that "well, at least you didn't get killed" or "it's wasn't as bad as X happening" doesn't help any situation and telling that to someone (or yourself) after surviving traumatic experiences like rape doesn't in the long run make anyone feel better. What needs to happen is an open dialogue and changes to rape culture-- this idea that it was deserved, it was how the person dressed, it was easy, it was what she wanted, they were drunk, etc.

This collection of essays (short stories) strung together with the theme of the trauma of rape in it's many forms and intersectionalities should not make anyone feel "grateful" for surviving X when Y happened to someone else. We need to talk to predators. We need to convict rapists.

It's a collection that is memorable. It can provide a platform for advocacy for victim rights. It allows those silenced to be heard. It does a lot in just one book and Gay is a competent editor and the conversation necessary. ...more

An important addition to any collection that gives nonfiction stories about sexual violence survivors that are their creative (but still nonfiction) sAn important addition to any collection that gives nonfiction stories about sexual violence survivors that are their creative (but still nonfiction) stories then includes a short interview after each short story with the survivor that further explains, comments, or shares about the experience, healing, etc.

Important for health curricula, people who want to understand more about trauma and how to help stop it, and signs especially when those victims are as young as some of the ones sharing their stories in this book. ...more

The format is what makes the book especially for true crime fans and mystery lovers. Told in Sadie's voice and countered with that of a radio personalThe format is what makes the book especially for true crime fans and mystery lovers. Told in Sadie's voice and countered with that of a radio personality running a "Serial"-like podcast about the death of a young girl (Sadie's sister), you have the makings of a great and imperfect family with abuse in the middle and a sister / mother-figure hellbent on revenge.

It's got a fabulous voice and well paced though somewhat repetitive from time to time but more for the thrill of the hunt. Will Sadie get what she needs? Will the mystery be solved? Will all of the parties come out with some kind of resolution? I can see what the hype is all about. ...more

There's some action and now we're getting a little bit more about the mother's as well as the plot that the kids are creating now that there's a dateThere's some action and now we're getting a little bit more about the mother's as well as the plot that the kids are creating now that there's a date for the next one to go. Action and adventure and dark, twisty plotting! ...more

I went on a roller coaster ride with this one recommended to me. Then I get on Goodreads and realize that almost everyone has it on their TBR pile, itI went on a roller coaster ride with this one recommended to me. Then I get on Goodreads and realize that almost everyone has it on their TBR pile, it won a Goodreads Choice award, AND has over a 4-star rating. And geez, I was only reading it because it was recommended to me, who knew!

There's such a fulfillment in reading a story that personally touched Hoover's life and her description of how she settled on the book, the characterizations, and her own upbringing threw it into the stratosphere of emotion.

There are the sexy bits, the empowering bits. The bits of mystery. The needing to grow up. Being grown up. Seeing how our parents live and deciding whether or not that life is what and how we want to live. All of the characters were three-dimensional right down to Marshall and Allyssa. ...more